Nov/Dec 2021 RMM

THE ALOHA SPIRIT is what Wendy Oshiro loves about Hawaii. Born and raised on the island of Oahu, it’s one of the main reasons why she has no desire to live anywhere else. “You can feel the Aloha Spirit when people show loving kindness and warm regard for each other,” she says. “Our island is truly a gathering place for local folks and visitors alike who enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle, beautiful beaches and tropical climate.” Wendy’s quest to serve has taken her on a journey from a high school math teacher to Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP). Through it all, Wendy has always been committed to the well-being of her clients, family and community. Even in college, Wendy enjoyed tutoring math to younger kids. After three and a half years of studying electrical engineering in college, she decided to seek other possible careers that would be more fulfilling. A friend convinced her that teaching high school would be a good fit, so she switched gears and completed college with a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics. She taught in the classroom for 16 years, meeting her husband—a teacher at the same school. Then the illnesses of her parents turned everything upside down. She and her siblings focused on caring for them. As power of attorney, Wendy felt the responsibility and stress weighing on her. After a long teaching career, she quit her job so she could focus on taking care of her parents and staying well. The experience led to her first encounter with a reverse mortgage. It did not go well. The parent of one of her students offered to set up a meeting with someone who had a financial solution that could help Wendy’s parents stay in their home. She was open to learning more. When the day came, they arrived at Wendy’s parents’ home with a sponge cake. At some point the friend, who was a loan originator, suggested a reverse mortgage. “I hit the roof,” says Wendy. She laughs now at what was an awkward moment. “I really had no idea how a reverse mortgage worked, but I wasn’t open to learning about it, either.” She later learned a reverse mortgage could have improved the quality of life for her folks. Her parents needed 24/7 care, and even their long-term care insurance wasn’t enough to cover the cost of care. She ended up selling the home, which forced her parents to remain in a care home. Her dad suffered depression at the loss of the home overlooking Pearl Harbor. He had built that house with a friend and lived there with Wendy’s mom for nearly 30 years. Now that she wasn’t working, Wendy had more time to research her options, and she learned how reverse CRMP Builds Career in Hawaii Focusing on Community A Chat With Wendy Oshiro, CRMP, Mutual of Omaha Mortgage By M. Diane McCormick Wendy Oshiro CRMP: Across the Kitchen Table 16 REVERSE MORTGAGE / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021